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F
or some time now, colleges and uni-
versities have been educating students
about downloadable web-based eBooks
while still offering mainly print book collec-
tions. ECPI University has accelerated its
purchase of eBooks in the past few years
and can now boast that eBooks outnum-
ber the print collection 3-to-1 with over
100,000 titles. The next import of titles
– coming this summer – will add another
25,000 titles.
If you’ve not already done so, here’s how
you can access this incredible repository
of knowledge. First, visit ECPI’s Online
Library catalogue at
ecpi.ent.sirsi.net
. The
website provides a link to a ‘Find E-Books’
page that specifically directs users to the
vendors that offer downloadable titles.
Begin by setting up an account on the
vendor’s site. You will then be directed to
download a free version of
Adobe Digital
Editions
for the type of computer being
used. A tutorial is provided with step-by-
step directions to download chapters or
create an account to download the book
for a two-week loan period.
eBooks are surging in popularity. ECPI
University has tracked usage ever
since the first eBook contract was signed
in 2000. In 2013, there were over 1,400 us-
age sessions during a five-week term. The
needs of library users are always chang-
ing. The popularity of mobile devices and
the increased availability of downloadable
eBooks are two trends that our ECPI Uni-
versity librarians will be watching as they
plan for the future.
By David DeWalt, Network Security
Management Student, Columbia Campus
O
ftentimes you hear about people
who join the military for the sole
reason of serving their country and being
a part of history. That wasn’t my story. I
was going to be a father and wanted to
provide for my family in a positive way,
so I enlisted to do just that. But what
started as a young boy determined to
find a means to an end, quickly turned
into a young man determined to seek ex-
cellence from himself and those around
him. It was in the Army that I first heard
the quote by Carl Rogers that says,
“The only person who is educated is the
one who has learned how to learn and
change.” After hearing this, I decided
that if I was nothing else in this life, I
would seek a lifestyle of learning.
While in the military, I was determined to
become the most educated soldier that
I could be. I became a Drill Sergeant,
a Paratrooper, and earned numerous
medals and awards honoring leadership,
performance, and excellence in military
education. When I made the choice to
leave the Army, continuing my education
was not something that I even had to
think about. I knew I wanted to pursue
a career in the Communications/IT field,
and to do so I would need more formal
education.
Also, I knew that I had my children
watching me and I wanted to set a prec-
edent for them that education was not
just something you do, it’s who you are.
Knowing that I needed a certain level of
education to match the practical, on-the-
job experience gained in the Army and
to work in IT Management positions in
the civilian landscape, I was led to ECPI
University.
The hands-on approach to learning from
an accelerated and accredited institution
was just what I was looking for. Being
at ECPI has helped in the positions I’ve
held as a Network Administrator and IT
Director by providing me with instruction
from knowledgeable individuals in the IT
field that genuinely care about me, my
family, and my future goals. The experi-
ence that I’ve had here has been invalu-
able to my professional development,
and the relationships that I’ve built here
will without a doubt last a lifetime. It is
my desire that through my story some-
one can be encouraged that no matter
how their story begins, they too can do
just as Carl Rogers said and become
educated by learning how to learn,
and through that, have it change them
forever.
A Lifestyle of Learning
LIBRARY CORNER
Downloadable eBooks @ECPI University Libraries
By ECPI University Library Director Rebecca Tabakin